African violet plant

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a novel African Violet plant having violet-blue blossoms of large size, borne over a long period on strong, upright stems.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of AfricanViolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Evelyn. Evelyn, which was identifiedduring the seedling selection process by No. 17/75 blue, is a product ofa planned breeding program which had the objective of creating a newAfrican Violet cultivar with violet-blue flower color, strong uprightstems, fast and vigorous growth, profuse flowering, uniform bouquet, andprolonged blooming period. These traits in combination were not presentin previously available commercial cultivars.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany. The female, or seedparent was an unpatented cultivar known as Type XIX 4295. The male, orpollen parent was an unpatented cultivar identified as Type XIX 4231.

The new cultivar Evelyn was discovered and selected as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by me in a controlled environmentin Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cutting and by divisionof shoots, as performed by me at Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, under greenhouse conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Evelyn, which in combination distinguishthis African Violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Relatively large flower size.

2. Violet-blue flower color.

3. Foliage color.

4. Fast and vigorous growth, and

5. Profuse flowering on strong stems, and long blooming period.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to theHorticultural color chart issued by Wilson Colour Ltd., except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary significance are obvious.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv. Evelyn.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Cultivar XIX 4231, a moorish blue African Violet, colorvalue 739/2.

Female parent.--Cultivar XIX 4295, victoria violet in color, No. 738/2.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 8 cm. to 10 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately35 cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: round to oval. Diameter: 6-7.5 cm. Texture: soft.Aspect: shiny and slightly hairy. Veins: underside strong, pronouncedreddish-green. Color (upperside): spinach green 0960. Color (underside):light green 60/3. Petiole: brown-red to green.

Flowers:

Buds.--Cup-shaped, 1-3 mm. when small, 10 mm. before opening; color,brown-red.

Sepals.--5 sepals, hairy. Color: Brown-red.

Calyx.--Funnel-shaped and symsepalous.

Aspect.--Spear-shaped.

Peduncle.--Brown-red, strong, upright, 4 mm.

Individual flowers:

Size.--40-48 mm. and cup-shaped, becoming flat when fully opened.

Color.--Upperside: blue violet to spectrum violet 735. Underside: asterviolet 38.

Borne.--Every flower stem has 10-14 flowers on short peduncles.

Shape.--Five petals; two small and three larger.

Corolla.--Each large petal is 24 mm. long and 18-20 mm. wide; the 2smaller petals are 17 mm. long and 14 mm. wide.

Arrangement.--Strong upright peduncles, multiflorous with 10-14 flowers.

Flowering time: Approximately 6 to 7 weeks after potting, the firstflowers appear, after which it takes approximately 3 additional weeks tobring the plant to full maturity.

Reproductive organs:

Anthers.--Two, 2 mm. × 3 mm., golden yellow; ovary, pilous, seed capsuledoes not push through.

Arrangement.--Basifixed.

Filaments.--4 mm. long, color anconite violet 937/1.

Styles.--One, color moorish blue 739/3.

Pollen color.--Light yellow.

Roots: Normal, well developed root system.

Disease resistance: The resistance of the new cultivar is excellentagainst botrytis and mildew.

General observations: The new cultivar is characterized as to novelty byits large, solid flower head with large, dark violet blue flowers. Sixto eight strong stems 6-8 cm. long support 9-14 flowers above a wreathof fresh green leaves on each plant surrounding the flowers. If startedfrom leaf cutting under good commercial conditions and the sametreatment, the plants will flower at the same time. The flowers do notdrop from the stem after withering, thereby avoiding damage anddestruction due to mildew and botrytis from fallen blossoms.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African Violet plant referredto by the cultivar name Evelyn and particularly characterized as touniqueness by the combined characteristics of violet-blue flower color,relatively large flower size on strong stems, profuse flowering and longblooming period, foliage color, and fast and vigorous growth.